I-75 at University Drive Diverging Diamond Interchange
City of Auburn Hills
Michigan Department of Transportation
Auburn Hills, MI
Michigan’s First DDI Reduces Traffic Congestion, Improves Traveler Safety
A collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the City of Auburn Hills, OHM Advisors participated in this $25 million reconstruction project at the interchange of I-75 and University Drive. For years, this main entryway to Auburn Hills’ high-tech corridor including Oakland University and Chrysler’s North American headquarters caused congestion that significantly backed up interstate traffic and posed safety risks for all travelers. Several years prior to obtaining for the project, MDOT reached out us to propose redesign options for the area. One option we proposed was a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI), which, at the time, was a relatively new geometric concept requiring drivers to briefly cross to the opposite side of the road at carefully designed crossover intersections. In the ultimate, fully-funded project, MDOT and the city chose to utilize this innovative plan option through a design-build process.
Our team provided various services to the project, including a preliminary conceptual risk assessment prior to RFP development, which included extensive public education and engagement, and multi-agency coordination. Our experts performed operational engineering studies and analyses, created the preliminary design and geometrics, and incorporated designs for preliminary drainage and maintenance of traffic during construction. Our urban design and landscape architecture teams added enhanced lighting, aesthetic streetscape features and a community-branded interchange bridge that was the first of its kind in the state.
The transformative, award-winning DDI alleviates congestion and improves traffic flow, allows pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic to safely cross the bridge, preserves a wetland area parallel to freeway, and has the potential to provide sweeping economic benefits to a fast-growing region—all for millions less than conventional interchange rehabilitation methods.
Project Highlights: transportation engineering, DDI, bridge, traffic engineering, aesthetic enhancements, street lights, multi-agency coordination, DOT, engineering design, bridge design, traffic signal design, pedestrian signal design, utility coordination, public engagement, MDOT practices & procedures
We are very, very proud of this project. Having the first DDI in Auburn Hills is really just a fantastic thing for our community. We're getting a lot of calls from people who are driving through the area and just saying how beautiful it is.
